YOUNG cricketers celebrated their summer season achievements in the Wollens-sponsored South Devon Youth Cricket League at the competition’s awards evening.

Paignton, Bovey Tracey and Ipplepen were among the clubs with the most to celebrate in the ballroom at Paignton’s Redcliffe Hotel.

All the awards were presented by Jim Parker, the chairman of Devon Cricket’s youth group, who was representing Wollens in his role as their business development manager.

Paignton collected the under-15 league champions’ trophy, the runners-up cup in the girls’ under-13 division and individual awards for three players during the ceremony at the Redcliffe Hotel in Paignton.

Oscar Munson, who took 12 wickets with the ball and averaged 178 with the bat, was all-rounder of the year in under-13 cricket.

Ollie Woodcock averaged 97.50 in six innings for Paignton in the under-14 division and was the batter of the year for that age-group.

Archie Farkins was player of the year in the under-15 division, which Paignton won ahead of Bovey Tracey.

Ipplepen tasted success in two boys’ divisions – and had a player of the year and a bowler of the year in girls’ cricket too.

The under-12s and under-13s were divisional winners and the under-11s finished second behind Shaldon in their division.

Darcy Thomas was player of the year in the Under-13 Girls’ Division. Her wicket tally was topped up by taking six more in boys’ cricket.

Naomi Hancock – dad is former Devon captain Neil Hancock – was under-11 bowler of the season in the boys’ division.

Ipplepen’s Jack Edworthy was a deserved batsman of the year in under-11 cricket – no one got him out all season. Edworthy was limpet-like in all cricket for Ipplepen. In seven innings for the under-10, under-11s and under-12s he was only dismissed once!

Bovey Tracey shared the under-10 competition with Shaldon, the Under-13 Girls’ Division and were runners-up in the Under-15 Boys’ Division. Jake Forey was the under-13 bowler of the year.

Harry Pitman had an impressive season with the bat for Bovey. He scored 224 league runs at an average of 112.

Sam Russell, another Bovey player, was nominated by rivals Paignton for the Spirit of Cricket award in recognition of his sportsmanship in a critical end-of-season game in the under-15 division.

George Breyley, one of the competition’s committeemen, said what Russell did was truly remarkable.

“Paignton and Bovey were playing in the last game that would decide their division,” said Breyley, a former player with Kingskeswell.

“Bovey were batting second and it was into the final few overs of a tight game when Paignton appeal for a catch.

“The umpire was not going to give it until Sam at the non-striker’s stepped forward to confirm that the catch is good and his colleague is out.”

Paignton went on to win the game by eight runs and with it the divisional title by just two points.

Torquay’s Blaise Baker went home laden down with trophies for the second year running. He was under-12 batter (174 runs) and all-rounder of the year in the Torquay team that finished runners-up to Ipplepen.

Baker also featured in the under-14 team skippered by Harry Passenger that won their division.

Noah Rider, a regular on the podium on SDYCL awards nights, was bowler of the year with an average of just six runs per wicket.

Among other notable winners was Barton’s Lewis Crocker, who was the under-15 all-rounder of the season. He took 11 wickets and scored 148 runs. Twin Callum, who is two minutes younger than his brother, also made it into the bowling top ten for the division.

Shaldon were joint winners in the Boys’ Under-10 Division, outright winners at under-11 level and runners-up in the Boys’ Under-14 Division. 

Seb Linnitt scored 181 runs in six innings at an average of 90.50 for Shaldon and took five wickets, performances that made him under-14 all-rounder of the year.

Paul Harding, the competition’s long serving treasurer, was presented the Services to Youth Cricket award.

Click here for more photos from the Wollens South Devon Youth Cricket League awards evening